Three leading experts on artificial intelligence will come to Gloucester for a panel discussion led by WBZ’s long-time political analyst Jon Keller on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m.
The free community event, sponsored by Gloucester Lyceum, is titled “AI’s Promise and Peril: A Conversation.” It will explore how the rise of artificial intelligence is impacting the economy, jobs, privacy and human relationships.
The featured panelists are Dartmouth Professor Roopika Risam, whose book “Data Empire” was selected for Barack Obama’s 2026 reading list; Professor Nir Eisikovits of University of Massachusetts, Boston, and director of the Applied Ethics Center; and Hilary Robinson, a law professor at Northeastern University Law School, whose research examines AI’s real-world effects on law, work and daily life.
Additionally, Eisikovits is co-host of the podcast “Prosthetic Gods,” which examines the ethics and politics of emerging technology.
“The Lyceum was founded to bring big ideas to Gloucester and let neighbors wrestle with them together,” said Ann Ziergiebel, a Gloucester Lyceum Committee member. “There’s no topic more timely than this one, and no topic that touches more people. No matter what your age or interests, AI is already shaping your daily life. We wanted to bring together voices who could help our community start to make sense of it.”
This program, to be held in the Kyrouz Auditorium at City Hall, 9 Dale Ave., is the second in the Lyceum’s 2026 speaker series designed to examine how the forces of current times are reshaping individuals, communities and society in general.
The first program of the series, which was moderated by WGBH’s Callie Crossley in May, featured Harvard professor and best-selling author Steven Levitsky, who discussed his research into how democracies can slide into authoritarianism.
Copies of Risam’s book will be available for sale at the event, courtesy of The Bookstore; and there will be multiple copies of her book available to borrow through the Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Ave.
While the program is free, seating is limited. Registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Gail McCarthy may be contacted at 978-675-2706, or gmccarthy@northofboston.com.